MONTACHUSETT REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION

Serving the Montachusett Region Since 1968

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Montachusett Regional
Planning Commission

1427R Water Street

Fitchburg, MA 01420

Tel. 978-345-7376

Fax. 978-348-2490

email: mrpc@mrpc.org

Executive Director

Glenn Eaton

GIS

Ashburnham

Athol

Clinton

Gardner

Harvard

Lancaster

Lunenburg

Phillipston

Shirley

Templeton

Westminster

Devens

Ashby

Ayer

Fitchburg

Groton

Hubbardston

Leominster

Petersham

Royalston

Sterling

Townsend

Winchendon

What is GIS?

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a comprehensive computer system capable of storing, editing, analyzing, and displaying geographically referenced (spatial) information.

A GIS is comprised of hardware, software, data, and most importantly people who are trained in using a GIS.  To see a flow chart that explains the basics of GIS click here.

GIS can assist in a variety of private and public sector projects including:

·          Assessing

·          Master and Open Space Planning

·          Trail and Recreation Planning

·          Public Safety/Homeland Security

·          Community and Economic Development

·          Land Use Planning

·          Public Works/Transportation Planning

·          Demographic Analysis

For a list of links to detailed information regarding GIS click here.

About MRPC GIS

The MRPC GIS Lab serves as a State Designated Regional GIS Service Center through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA), Office of Geographic and Environmental Information (MassGIS).

We are also a member of the Massachusetts Alliance of Regional Geographic Information Systems (MARGIS).  MARGIS is a technical advisory group to the Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies (MARPA).

We use specialized software developed by Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), a world-wide leader in GIS technology.  Our GIS Warehouse consists of a wide variety of Vector (point, lines and polygons) and Raster (grid-based/image) data at the national, state, regional, town and site-specific level.  The GIS Lab has the capabilities of printing standard and wall-sized maps using a state-of-the art HP DesignJet 4000, 42” wide-format printer to meet all of your mapping needs. 

The GIS Lab staff has extensive experience in the field of GIS and is also trained in the use of GPS technology.  We have worked closely with a variety of local, regional and state officials to offer a variety of services including data development and management, training, planning, technical assistance and mapping.

How can the MRPC GIS Department Help You?

The MRPC maintains a vast warehouse of data including, but not limited to, Infrastructure, Zoning, Land Use and Open Space, to Color Orthophotos and USGS Topographic Quadrangle Images.  We use all of this data to assist our communities with GIS mapping and data collection in order to make better informed planning decisions.

Examples of projects that the MRPC has completed for our communities include Open Space and Recreation Plans, Master Plans, Zoning, Trail Inventory, Build-out analysis, Community Development Plans (EO418), as well as Homeland Security projects.  The MRPC also has the ability to maintain GIS Parcels for our communities.  For our region we have completed projects such as the Hazardous Material & Transportation Route Analysis, Predatory Lending Study, and the Regional Transportation Plan.

Currently each MRPC Member Community is allowed eight free hours of GIS Planning Assistance per calendar year that they can use for GIS mapping, data collection/analysis, and/or training on a specific task.  To see more information regarding the GIS Planning Assistance and Rate Schedule click here.

Wind Mapping Information Now Available 

The MRPC GIS Department completed a series of wind related maps for its member communities.  To view the static and interactive maps click here.

GPS Capabilities Presentation 

The MRPC GIS Department conducted a PowerPoint presentation at the August 26, 2009 Commission meeting on the capabilities of the GPS equipment recently purchased.  To view the presentation, please click here.

Area State Representative and Senator Jurisdiction Maps

The MRPC GIS Department has compiled a series of reference maps that identifies for its member communities their particular Massachusetts State Representatives and Senators.  They are available to view and download on the Documents page.  Please note that these maps are in Adobe pdf format and require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view them. 

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Quick Hits

What is GIS?

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a comprehensive computer system capable of storing, editing, analyzing, and displaying geographically referenced (spatial) information.  For a graphical representation of GIS, it's components and how it can assist municipalities, please click on the following link.

GIS Rate Schedule

To download a copy of the MRPC GIS Rate Schedule for member and non-member communities or organizations, see the Documents page under Reports/Studies/Forms or click the link below.